Tuesday, February 26, 2013

A Complicated Humble Brag

In an email exchange with my son's seminary teacher, the teacher said,

"Sam is a great young man! I can tell he values being a priesthood holder by the way he treats others. Thank you for raising him that way."

When I read that, my eyes flooded with tears and I was very proud. I thought: Yes. I did it.

My grandpa had 5 daughters and 0 sons. My mom had 3 daughters and 0 sons. My dad left the church and my step dad is not active. I have complicated feelings about the priesthood. I don't love the patriarchal nature of religion or the sexism embedded into the culture of my church's early history.

I think there is nothing better than other people vocalizing a specific and sincere compliment about your child, especially THAT kind of a compliment! Eating nutella crepes in front of a fire in one's pajamas probably comes pretty close, but still.